Vehicle-top.



No. 647,93l. Patented Apr. 24, I900. G. W. ATKINS.

VEHICLE TOP.

(Application filed Mar. 20, 1900 2 Sheefts-Sheat I,

(No Model.)

I: II:

n 1 I I I I Hill: 7 Wi W; I I V l JII'Im-gcya I No. 647,93l. Patented Apr. 24, I900. i a. w. ATKINS.

VEHICLE TOP.

. (Application filed Mar. 20, 1900.)

.- (No Model.) 2 Shaets$heet 2.

74 J Wilgesszs I M NITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

GEORGE W. ATKINS, OF MILTON, DELAWARE.

VEHICLE-TOP.

EQIPEGIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 647,931, dated April 24, 1900.

Applicationfiled March 20,1900. Serial Nb. 9,423. (No model.)

improve the construction of the tops of bug-.

gies, carriages, wagons, and analogous vehi cles and to enable the curtains to be readily operated from the interior of the vehicle to open and close them. I 1

A further objectof the invention is to' en-' able the curtains of a vehicle-top to remain on the same at all times and to arrange them in convenientposition for instant use.'

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and. arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated vings.

1 designates a drop-top for carriages provided with front, rear, and middle bows 2, 3, and 4, which are hinged at opposite sides of a seat 5 in the usual manner and which are .adapted to swing forward and rearward to raise and lower the top 1, as will be readily understood. usual outer cover 6 and the inner lining 7, and it has curved plates 8, of sheet metal or other suitable material, mounted within the top,at opposite sides of the center of the same, and conforming to the configuration of the said top. The plates 8, which are curved longitudinally and transversely, are mounted upon the said bows and are spaced from the cover 6 to provide ways '7 for the side our- The top 1 is provided withthe tains 9, and they are adapted to support and guide the side curtains, which when open or raised are arranged upon the upper faces of the plates, as clearly illustrated in Figr3 of the accompanying drawings.- i V The side curtains when raised by the means hereinafter described have their inner edges abutting against or arranged contiguous toa central rib or bar 10, which is provided near" its center and ends with openings 11 for coiled springs 12. The coiled springs 12 are secured at their outer ends'to the upper edges of the side curtains, and they extend through the openings of the central rib orbar 10, as clearly shown inFig. 2. The inner portions extend beneatli and are interposed between the curved platesand the lining 7, being secured to lon gitudinal side ribsor bars 13. The outer p0rtions of the coiled springs are adapted to be drawn over the upper face of the curved plates,as clearly shown in Fig.1 of the ac companying drawings, when the side cur 'tains are drawndownward, and the said springs are preferably composed of flattened coils in order to arrange them compactly between the plates and the cover 6. The side be instantly drawn down and secured. By

this construction the side curtains are always in position for instant use, and they are protected when not in use by being arranged in the ways of the vehicle-top.

The cover 6 is supported by longitudinal strips 16, of sheet metal or other suitable ma terial, and the improved carriage-top presents the appearance of an ordinary carriage-top. If desired, the back curtain may be constructed similar to the side curtains, and longitudinal springs may be provided in addition to the transversely-disposed springs shown in Fig. 1. When the back curtain is con structed in this manner, a suitable space or way will be provided for the reception of the same and the springs for actuating it.

It will be seen that the carriage-top is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that it presents the appearance of an ordinary carriage-top, and that the side curtains when not in use are concealed and protected and are arranged in convenient position, so that they may be instantly drawn down to their closed position. It will also be apparent that the improvements are readily applicable to all kinds of carriages, wagons, and analogous vehicles.

What is claimed is- 1. A carriage-top provided with curved plates concealed within it and spaced from the cover to provide ways and forming guides, the side curtains supported by and guided on the curved plates, and the transversely-disposed coiled springs secured to the top and connected with thenpper edges of the side curtains and adapted to draw the same upward,and means for securing the curtains in their closed positions, substantially as described.

2. A carriage-top provided with a curved plate concealed within it and forming a cur tain support and guide, a curtain adapted to be raised and lowered and arranged to move over the said plate, and coiled springs secured to the top and to the upper edge of the curtain and arranged longitudinally of the line of movement of the same, substantially as described.

3. A carriage-top. provided with a central rib or bar having openings, plates concealed within the carriage-top and conforming to the configuration of the same and forming curtain guides or supports, the side curtains arranged to move over the plates, and the transversely disposed coiled springs extending through the openings of the central rib or bar, and having their outer portions arranged at the upper faces of the plates and connected with the curtains, the inner portions of the springs being secured to the top beneath the plates, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aifixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' GEORGE w. ATKINS. "\Vitnesses:

JOHN B. WELoH, HENRY E. BENNINGTON. 

